We are only two months into the Coach Prime era at Colorado and we have seen a complete overhaul of the Buffs’ roster.
After countless years of fleeting hope and losing seasons, Coach Prime has seemingly turned around the Colorado football program overnight with the 2023 recruiting class.
Below you will find every detail you need to know about each incoming 2023 recruit who will wear black and gold for the first time this season.
Coach Prime is already breaking records
Coach Prime was hired and introduced to Buff Nation with his introductory press conference on December 4th. After that day, CU’s coaches only had five days to travel and recruit ahead of the early signing period. After the early signing period, Coach Prime and his staff were only given 10 days to travel and recruit the country in search of future Buffs. Colorado finished the 2023 recruiting cycle as the 21st overall class combining high school recruits and transfers. That is the best ranking for any new coach at Colorado. The 2006 class finished 47th, the 2011 class finished 65th, the 2013 class finished 69th, the 2019 class finished 48th and the 2021 class finished 69th.
Colorado had the 4th overall transfer class in the 2023 class topping 2020’s 18th-place finish. The 2020 and 2023 classes are the only Colorado transfer classes to rank within the top 40.
The Buffs signed two five-star recruits (high school signee Cormani McClain and transfer Travis Hunter) for the 2023 class. Colorado has only signed two five-star recruits in the modern era before 2023 (one five-star signee in 2000 and another in 2008).
Colorado signed seven four-star recruits matching the previous high set in 2002.
Combined, the Buffs signed nine four-star and five-star recruits which is the most ever for Colorado.
47 new players have joined the program this year, a school record.
Colorado signed players from 16 states and two countries (England and Australia).
Coach Prime and his staff successfully recruited and signed seven players from the state of Florida. The most of any state in this class and the most from Florida since 1978 (7).
Four players from the state of Georgia signed with Colorado, the most signees ever from Georgia.
Eight defensive backs and eight wide receivers signed with Colorado, the most for either position in any class in CU’s history.
High School Signees
Five-star CB, Cormani McClain, 13th overall recruit 1st CB
Lakeland High School, Lakeland, FL, 6-2 165 lbs
Committed to Miami (FL) on October 27th, 2022. It was widely expected that McClain would sign his NLI to Miami on early signing day, December 21st, but then McClain’s mother announced he would be signing at a later day. McClain then announced at the Under Armour All-American Game on January 3rd that he would be “signing” on January 15th. It was then found out that McClain was visiting Coach Prime and Colorado on January 13th. January 15th came and went without a commitment from McClain until he announced on January 19th that he is committed to Colorado.
Four-star WR, Omarion Miller, 269th overall 38th WR
North Caddo High School, Vivian, LA, 6-2 200 pounds
Committed to Nebraska on July 5th, decommitted on December 2nd and committed to Colorado on December 24th. He received nine offers including LSU, Miami and South Carolina. As a senior in 2022, he had 49 receptions for 1183 yards (24.1 ypc) and 15 touchdowns.
Four-star RB Dylan Edwards, 173rd overall 11th RB
Derby High School, Derby, KS, 5-9 165 lbs
Possesses world-class speed and reportedly ran a 4.38 40-yard dash in the summer of 2022. Committed to Kansas State on June 23rd, decommitted from Kansas State on July 29th, committed to Notre Dame on August 6th, decommitted from Notre Dame on December 8th, and committed to Colorado on December
Four-star WR Adam Hopkins, 264th overall 36th WR
Thomas County Central High School, Thomasville, GA, 6-0 170 pounds
Committed to Auburn on September 15th, decommitted on December 1st and committed to Colorado on December 21st. Had 33 receptions for 490 yards and 6 TDs in 2022.
10th. Edwards played for Coach Prime in his youth football days.
Three-star QB Kasen Weisman, 1482nd overall 71st QB
South Paulding High School, Douglasville, GA, 6-2 180 lbs
Committed to Kansas on August 11th, visited Colorado on December 16th, decommitted from Kansas on December 21st, committed and signed his NLI to Colorado on December 25th.
Three-star IOL Hank Zilinskas, 1802nd overall 135 IOL
Cherry Creek High School, Englewood, CO, 6-3 275 lbs
Originally committed to Colorado and former head coach Karl Dorrell on June 10th. Signed his NLI to play at Colorado on December 21st.
Three-star WR Jordan Onovughe, 1070th overall 151st WR
Mater Dei High School, Santa Ana, CA, 6-2 200 lbs
Originally committed to Colorado and interim head coach Mike Sanford on November 7th. Signed his NLI to play at Colorado on December 21st. Had 46 catches for 517 receiving yards and 4 TDs in 2022.
Three-star LB Morgan Pearson, 594th overall 52nd LB
Plainview High School, Ardmore, OK, 6-1 225 lbs
Originally committed to Colorado and interim head coach Mike Sanford on November 28th. Signed his NLI to play at Colorado on December 21st. Played both ways in high school and is listed as a wide receiver on 247sports.com. However, he was listed as a linebacker and tagged with Colorado’s linebackers coach Andre Hart in this post.
Three-star WR Isaiah Hardge, 1114th overall 159th WR
St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 5-10 170 lbs
Verbally committed to Colorado on April 20th, and signed his NLI on December 21st. He had 26 receptions for 380 yards and 4 TDs as a senior. His older brother, Ron Hardge III, was a 2020 three-star recruit that committed to Oregon State. He entered the transfer portal and committed to Colorado State for the 2023 season.
Three-star S Jaden Milliner-Jones, 1385th overall 139th S
DeSoto High School, DeSoto, TX, 5-11 190 lbs
Committed to SMU on June 13th and flipped to Colorado when the early signing period opened on December 21st.
Three-star CB Carter Stoutmire, 728th overall 74th CB
Prestonwood Christian High School, Plano, TX, 5-11 175 lbs
Was originally offered by Colorado on January 27th and committed to Arizona on June 7th. Visited Colorado last weekend, decommitted from Arizona on December 18th and committed to Colorado on December 20th.
Three-star WR Jacob Page, 816th overall 114 WR
Blackman High School, Murfreesboro, TN, 6-3 176 lbs
Over the last two seasons at Blackman High School, Page produced 66 receptions for 1233 yards and 13 TDs. He was offered by Coach Prime and Colorado on December 16th. He committed on December 19th.
Three-star LB Kofi Taylor-Barrocks, 1385th overall 119th LB
NFL Academy, London, England, 6-3 220 lbs
He is one of England’s top recruits. He is part of the NFL Academy, an NFL initiative to get 16-19-year-olds from around the world on the path to the NFL. Taylor-Barrocks committed to JSU on September 29th, decommitted on December 17th and committed to Colorado on December 18th.
Three-star WR Asaad Waseem, 881st overall 126th WR
Ocoee High School, Ocoee, FL, 5-11 175 lbs
As a senior for Ocoee High School in 2022, Waseem had 82 receptions for 1481 yards and 20 TDs.
Three-star QB Ryan Staub, 728th overall 34th QB
West Ranch High School, Stevenson Ranch, CA, 6-2 180 pounds.
Was originally recruited by Mike Sanford and committed to Colorado in January 2022. He reaffirmed his commitment to Colorado and Coach Prime on December 12th.
Three-star EDGE Taje McCoy, 594th overall 55th EDGE
Putnam City High School, Oklahoma City, OK, 6-3, 245 lbs
Has only been playing EDGE since he was a high school sophomore. McCoy was a wrestler in high school. He played little league ball with Dylan Edwards.
Three-star LB Victory Johnson, 1189th overall 96th LB
Cathedral Catholic High School, San Diego, CA, 6-4 230 lbs
Was originally recruited by Mark Smith and committed to Colorado on November 5th, 2022. He reaffirmed his commitment to Colorado and Coach Prime on December 9th. The younger brother of 2023 preferred walk-on, Champion Johnson.
Spring Walk-Ons
Champion Johnson, FB via Cal
6-1, 250 lbs
The older brother of 2023 recruit Victory Johnson. 2021 ATH recruit but did not see the field much the last two years at Cal. He is classified as a sophomore.
Duece Roberson II, WR via Snow College
5-9, 180 lbs
Roberson was Snow College’s leading receiver in 2022 with 24 catches for 349 yards and 3 TDs. Announced his commitment to Colorado on December 19th. Roberson went to Palmer Ridge High School and is from Colorado Springs, CO. He is classified as a sophomore.
Jacob Politte, LS via Jackson State
6-1, 195 lbs
Politte was a redshirt freshman for Jackson State last season and will be a sophomore in 2023.
Elijah Yelverton, TE via Iowa
6-5, 250 lbs
Yelverton was a three-star 2020 recruit who committed to Iowa. He did not see any playing time at Iowa. He entered the transfer portal on December 9th and committed to Colorado on January 31st. Yelverton played for Coach Prime when he was a senior high school at Trinity Christian.
Kaleb Mathis, CB
5-9, 160 lbs
A 2023 recruit from Grace Preparatory Academy in Arlington, TX. He is the son of cornerbacks coach Kevin Mathis.
Nathan Hallmark, LB
6-3, 220 lbs
A 2023 recruit from Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, CO.
Jacob Woida, DE
6-2, 240 lbs
A 2023 recruit from Arrowhead High School in Hartland, WI.
